Joe Mauer quoted in Sports Illustrated: “I worked hard this off-season to get my legs and core in shape. This is probably the best I’ve ever felt coming into a spring.”
Harvey Mackay and Lou Holtz are good friends whose friendship began when Mackay sold Holtz on coming here to coach the Gophers in the 1980s. The two golf together occasionally and recently played in Arizona.
Safety Nolan Brewster, Gopher coach Tim Brewster’s son, will be a high school senior next fall and a coveted college recruit. Tim said on Sunday no decision has been made on whether Nolan will remain in Denver for his senior season or move here but is “leaning” toward finishing up at Mullen High School in Colorado. The Gopher coach said he and his wife haven’t sold their home in Colorado, nor have they chosen a community to live in here.
Bill Lester, executive director of the Metrodome, was surprised by a report earlier this year from the NFL Players Association ranking the dome’s field surface among the worst in the league. The dome’s FieldTurf surface, installed in 2004, is the same as used in Tampa Bay’s stadium and Lester said that facility draws praise. Several years ago the dome’s previous surface was much criticized. “Sometimes it’s just tough to overcome a reputation,” Lester said.
The Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association does outstanding work in promoting and serving the interests of football in the state. Executive director Ron Stolski and other association leaders are excited to be working with Brewster. Membership in the association is growing and now totals over 800. Coaches can find more information at www.mshsca.org/football. Stolski, 67, has coached high school football for 45 years, 32 at Brainerd.
The MIAC has chosen its men’s basketball award winners and for a second consecutive season University of St. Thomas senior center Isaac Rosefelt is the league MVP. Saint John’s University junior wing Brady Brink was chosen Sixth Man of the Year and Steve Fritz of St. Thomas Coach of the Year.
Gustavus Adolphus College junior guard Jess Vadnais was chosen the MIAC women’s MVP. Bethel University sophomore center Annegret Nautsch was named the conference’s Sixth Player of the Year. Co-Coaches of the Year are College of St. Catherine coach Gary Rufsvold and Macalester College’s Ellen Thompson.